The Char Dham pilgrimage began on Wednesday with the reopening of the Gangotri and the Yamnotri shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas after six months.

Amidst blowing of conches and reciting of Vedic hymns, the two Himalayan shrines were opened to the public.

Uttaranchal Governor Sudarshan Agarwal was among the first to visit the Yamnotri shrine.

Besides the Gangotri and Yamnotri temples in Uttarkashi district, the Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag district will also be thrown open to the public on Thursday, whereas the portals of the Badrinath temple in Chamoli district will be opened on May 13.